El Tule, Teotitlan Village & Mitla Ruins Tour

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Duration: 5h
Location: Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico | Oaxaca, Mexico


Category: Day Trips & Excursio

Highlights:
Chance to see El Tule, the 1,500-year-old “Tree of Life”
Traditional textiles in the Zapotec village of Teotitlan
Ruins & ornate stonework at the archaeological site of Mitla
Local crafts & bright sculptures at an arts & crafts market
Visit to a mezcal factory to explore Oaxaca's famed spirit

Inclusions:
Guided tour of El Tule, Teotitlan, the Mitla Ruins, and a mezcal factory
Round trip transportation to and from Oaxaca hotels
Commentary in English and Spanish

Description:

Delve into centuries of pre-Hispanic Mexican culture with a visit to Zapotec architectural sites, a traditional arts and crafts market, and the incredible El Tule “Tree of Life,” which was planted between 1,200 and 3,000 years ago.

After being picked up from your hotel, journey to El Árbol del Tule. It's the widest tree in the world, and legend holds that a powerful shaman blessed El Tule when he planted it. This venerable plant’s trunk has a circumference of 138 feet (42 m) and its age is estimated at around 1,500 years.

Next, explore the patterned rugs, blankets, and textiles woven on traditional looms in the village of Teotitlan del Valle. This rural village was among the first founded by the Zapotecs, and many of its inhabitants still speak the ancient language.

From there, make your way to the archaeological site at Mitla. These UNESCO World Heritage ruins were an important religious and ceremonial center for the Zapotecs—their name translates to “Place of the Dead.” Admire the intricate friezes, stonework mosaics, and traces of original paint on the buildings throughout the complex.

Stop to shop for locally made wares and colorful alebrijes (sculptures) at an arts and crafts market on your way to a mezcal factory. Here you can learn about the production of this celebrated smoky spirit, from the harvesting of the maguey agave plant to the distillation of the finished product before the return trip to your hotel.